<div class="container"><div class="row align-items-start"><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2775/LGMS0107_b1f01_PPH_PublicGays-OnlyDance_19731214.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/wilde-stein-exhibit-documents/11">“Public Gay-Only Dance on tonight at Orono” Portland Press Herald, Dec. 14, 1973</a>, LG-MS0107 Karen Bye Papers, LGBTQ+ Collection, Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity Maine, USM Special Collections.</em></footer></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-6"><p>In December the newly recognized Wilde-Stein Club held a public dance for LGBTQIA+ people. The simple act of being able to dance together was something many LGBTQIA+ people hungered for but couldn’t find outside of their home or at Roland’s Tavern in Portland. Gay Support and Action in Bangor had been holding regular LGBTQIA+ dances, so Wilde-Stein followed suit by holding one at the Maine Christian Association House off campus. Wilde-Stein announced the dance to the Associated Press. A group of students from Colby College, who were interested in forming their own LGBTQIA+ student group, attended. The news article from the Portland Press Herald attracted the ire of Baptist Rev. Benjamin Bubar Jr. He wrote to University of Maine President Dr. Howard Neville to complain.</p><p>In his letter Rev. Bubar expressed dismay that the Wilde-Stein Club had been accepted as a UMaine Club, and therefore was being in part funded by the taxpayers of Maine, many of which, unbeknownst to the reverend, were LGBTQIA+. Bubar went on in his letter to note concern over acquired homosexuality, a popular misconception that the only way people became LGBTQIA+ was through contact with someone who was LGBTQIA+.</p><p>Soon after Bubar’s letter, in January of 1974, the Wilde-Stein Club announced they would be holding a Maine Gay Conference. The public debate over the conference, in the newspapers, media, and Maine Legislature, caused Dr. Neville to take a personal interest in the club and attempt to cancel or delay the conference, and make it difficult for the club to access UMaine club privileges.</p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2776/Letter_from_the_Christian_Civic_League_of_Maine_1973-12-20.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/social_justice/342">Letter to Dr. Howard Neville from Benjamin Bubar, Jr., December 20, 1973</a>, Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections, University of Maine.</em></footer></div></div></div</div></div><div class="row align-items-start"><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2778/Memo_from_Peter_Fitzgerald_to_Howard_Neville_1974-01-11.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/social_justice/337">Memo from Peter Fitzgerald to Howard Neville, January 11, 1974</a>, Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections, University of Maine.</em></footer></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-6"><p>The Wilde-Stein Club’s requests for funds were tabled or the amounts cut by the Student Senate. They were told there was no space in the Union mailroom for them to receive mail. The Library was told to cancel Focus; A Journal for Lesbians and The Advocate, which the club had requested they carry. The University also began to stall on the matter of the conference. Originally the Wilde-Stein Club had announced the conference would be February 9th. When they attempted to book the Hilltop Conference Center they were told they needed to postpone their conference until the spring due to the oil crisis that had begun in October of 1973. They rescheduled for March 21 but were again told to wait for warmer weather. Despite being told this the Hilltop Conference Center held three other conferences between February and March. When the Wilde-Stein Club rescheduled for a third time the conference director told them their April 20th date was only tentative, and that President Neville had the final say.</p><p> Behind the scenes the Administration was attempting to stall until they had a clearer idea of whether they could disband the club or at least not allow them to hold their conference. From 1970 to 1979 fourteen fledgeling LGBTQIA+ student groups at universities around the country were facing similar battles. Sturgis Haskins and the Wilde-Stein Club were very aware of the other cases. One of them was unfolding at the University of New Hampshire. The University had recognized an official LGBTQIA+ student club, Gay Students Organization (GSO), and had approved their request to hold a dance. But, due to legal pressure from the state legislature and the board of trustees, the University redacted its permission for the dance, and the GSO sued. Both the Wilde-Stein Club and the University of Maine Orono administration were watching to see what would happen in the Gay Students Organization of University of New Hampshire v. Bonner case.</p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2777/Closeting_reality_cartoon_Maine_Campus_1974_01_25.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/wilde-stein-exhibit-documents/3">“Closeting reality” cartoon, in Maine Campus, January 25, 1974</a>, Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections, University of Maine.</em></footer></div></div></div></div><div class="row align-items-start"><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2779/Letter_seeking_advice_from_University_Chancellor_1974-01-18.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/social_justice/336">Letter to Chancellor Donald R. McNeil from President Howard R. Neville seeking advice from University Chancellor, January 18, 1974</a>, Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections, University of Maine.</em></footer></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2780/University_Gay_Rights_Organization_Press_Release_1974-01-22.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/wilde-stein-exhibit-documents/25/">University Gay Rights Organization to Sponsor Conference, January 22, 1974</a>, Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections, University of Maine.</em></footer></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2781/Letter_from_Lester_J_Nadeau_to_Jon_H_Towle_1974_01_25.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/wilde-stein-exhibit-documents/6">Letter from Lester M. Nadeau to Jon M. Towle, January 25, 1974</a>, Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections, University of Maine.</em></footer></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2782/Letter_from_Dr_Howard_Neville_about_Maine_Gay_Conference_1974-03-08.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/social_justice/335">Letter from Dr. Howard Neville to Donald M. McNeil, March 8, 1974</a>, Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections, University of Maine.</em></footer></div></div></div></div><div class="row justify-content-center"><div class="col-lg-6"><p>On January 16, 1974 the New Hampshire Federal District court ruled in favor of the Gay Students Organization at the University of New Hampshire. Two days later President Neville wrote to the University of Maine Chancellor Donald R. McNeil asking what to do.</p><p>A week after the University of New Hampshire decision the Wilde-Stein Club forced the issue with UMaine by issuing a press release at the annual Board Meeting, stating the club would be holding a one day conference on the date they had submitted, April 20th. Chancellor McNeil suggested President Neville take the matter before the Board of Trustees.</p></div></div><div class="row align-items-start"><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2783/LGMS0107_b1f08_BangorBaptistChurchLetter_19740309.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/wilde-stein-exhibit-documents/16">“Dear Citizen” letter from the Bangor Baptist Church, March 9, 1974, Bangor Daily News</a>, LG-MS0107 Karen Bye Papers, LGBTQ+ Collection, Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity Maine, USM Special Collections.</em></footer></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-6"><p>President Neville had a three hour meeting with the Board of Trustees, followed by a two hour meeting the next day. After these meetings the Board ruled in favor of allowing the Wilde-Stein Club to hold their conference by reaffirming their commitment to freedom of speech and the dissemination of ideas. In his television statement, Dr. Neville cited the 1972 Wood v. Davison case from the University of Georgia.</p><p>In a letter to Chancellor McNeil, President Neville outlined the steps he had taken leading up to the Board of Trustees decision.</p><p>The Board of Trustees decision to allow the state-wide gay conference sparked a fire storm in the popular press. Baptist minister Herman C. Franklin and evangelical pastor Robert Gass joined Rev. Bubar in their indignation. Letters for and against the club existing and holding the conference poured into Maine Campus, the UMaine newspaper, and mainstream newspapers all over Maine. Bangor Daily News alone carried 39 stories on the conference, 15 of which were on the front page, 6 editorial, 3 guest editorials. There were an additional 85 letters to the editor. The issue was also discussed on TV and radio programs. The Gay Community News, a national queer newspaper based in Boston, MA noted, “since Christmas, the whole state [Maine] has gone through a big consciousness-raising thing. The issue of homosexuality has been on the front pages of all the papers almost daily…”</p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2784/Letter_from_Mr_and_Mrs_F_L_Bull_to_Dr_Howard_Neville_1974_03_06_combined.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/wilde-stein-exhibit-documents/7">Letter from Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Bull to Dr. Howard Neville, March 11, 1974</a>, Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections, University of Maine.</em></footer></div></div></div></div><div class="row align-items-start"><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2785/Letter_from_CE_Dickinson_to_Dr_Howard_Neville_1974_03_11.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/wilde-stein-exhibit-documents/4/">Letter from C. E. Dickinson to Dr. Howard Neville, March 11, 1974</a>, Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections, University of Maine.</em></footer></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-6"><p>In late March, members in both bodies of the Maine Legislature made small attempts to reverse the decision of the Board of Trustees. In the House of Representatives, Harold Brag of Perham introduced an amendment to the state budget to cut $1 million from the University of Maine’s budget unless the Board of Trustees reversed their decision on the Wilde-Stein Club. It was deeply defeated, 98 to 38, and called out as blackmail.</p><p>A few days later In the Senate, Walter Hichens of Eliot introduced a legislative order to direct the Board of Trustees to cancel the Wilde-Stein’s conference. It too was defeated 17 to 7.</p><p>News of the Wilde-Stein’s battle with the University and Maine Legislature spread and it was picked up by other LGBTQIA+ newspapers, like the Gay Community News out of Boston, MA, and The Advocate out of Los Angeles,CA, as well as national mainstream publications like Newsweek, The Washington Post, and San Francisco Chronicle.</p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2786/LGMS0107_b1f02_PPH_UMBlackmail_19740326.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/wilde-stein-exhibit-documents/14">“UM Blackmail move turned back in House.” Portland Press Herald, March 26, 1974</a>, LG-MS0107 Karen Bye Papers, LGBTQ+ Collection, Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity Maine, USM Special Collections.</em></footer></div></div></div></div><div class="row align-items-start"><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2787/LGMS0107_b1f02_PPH_MovetoBlock_19740328.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/wilde-stein-exhibit-documents/13">“Senate Roundup: A move to Block ‘Gays’ defeated by 17-7 vote.” Portland Press Herald, March 28, 1974</a>, LG-MS0107 Karen Bye Papers, LGBTQ+ Collection, Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity Maine, USM Special Collections.</em></footer></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2788/LGMS0107_b1f06_Advocate_NortheastCollegians_19740227.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/wilde-stein-exhibit-documents/15">“Northeast Collegians make waves.” The Advocate February 27, 1974</a>, LG-MS0107 Karen Bye Papers, LGBTQ+ Collection, Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity Maine, USM Special Collections.</em></footer></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2789/LGMS0107_b1f02_Newsweek_BoysintheBand_19740401.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/wilde-stein-exhibit-documents/12">The Boys in the Band.'' Newsweek, April 1, 1974</a>, LG-MS0107 Karen Bye Papers, LGBTQ+ Collection, Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity Maine, USM Special Collections.</em></footer></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="card text-center"><div class="ratio" style="--bs-aspect-ratio: 115%;display:grid;"><object type="application/pdf" data="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/exhibit/documents/2790/LGMS0107_b1f08_GCN_NewGayLibBattleground_19740309.pdf"></object></div><div class="m-2"><footer style="font-size: 14px;text-align: left"><em><a href="https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/wilde-stein-exhibit-documents/17">“New gay lib battleground, U of M.” Gay Community News</a>, LG-MS0107 Karen Bye Papers, LGBTQ+ Collection, Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity Maine, USM Special Collections.</em></footer></div></div></div></div></div>